The Space Needle is a 605-foot observation tower that defines the skyline of Seattle and serves as a symbol of the city. “It’s really an icon,” says Rick Chesmorea cofounder of Chesmore Buck Architecture and a tour guide for the Seattle Architecture Foundation. “It is the landmark of Seattle. If anybody thinks of Seattlethey think of the Space Needle.”
Built for the 1962 World’s Fairthe Space Needle has been providing visitors with panoramic views of the city and the surrounding natural wonders for over 60 years. With its flying-saucer-shaped top and curvy tripod baseit’s a pinnacle of midcentury-modern architecture that still manages to look futuristic. And it’s a home for celebrationsputting on annual light shows with fireworks and drones for New Year’s Eve.
To learn more about this famous towerAD chatted with Chesmorealong with Peter Steinbrueckthe founder of Steinbrueck Urban Strategiesa former Seattle City Council memberand the son of Space Needle designer Victor Steinbrueck; and Eugenia Woothe director of preservation services at Historic Seattle and a cofounder of Docomomo WEWA. Here’s everything you need to know about the Space Needle.
The Space Needle is located within the Seattle Center. It’s a hub of educationsportsand performing arts that includes the Pacific Science Center and the Climate Pledge Arenawhich were also built for the World’s Fairin addition to newer structures such as the Museum of Pop Culture and McCaw Hall. “Some of the original buildings [from the 1960s] have been retainedlike Minoru Yamasaki’s Pacific Science Center and arches,” Steinbrueck notes. “The arenaonce called the Coliseumwhich is home to the Kraken hockey teamhas been remodeled twicebut it still has the original Paul Thiry roof that was inspired by a native coastal Salish rain hat.”
The Seattle Center and all its attractions can be found in the city’s Lower Queen Anne neighborhood. “It’s on old tribal lands of the Duwamish and there’s some history there that is still to be unearthed,” explains Steinbrueck. “Nowit’s a mixed-use residential area at the foot of a hillside. It’s not in central Downtown and in some ways that’s a saving grace because had it been Downtown somewherethe Space Needle would not have the prominence that it does to this day. It would be lost in the jungle of high-rise towers.”
The Space Needle was built for the 1962 World’s Fairalso known as the Century 21 Exhibitionwhose theme was the ‘Age of Space.’ Unlike structures erected for other World’s Fairslike the Eiffel Towerthe Space Needle and the rest of the Seattle Center were always intended to be lasting fixtures. “They were designed to be permanent,” Chesmore confirms. “They became part of the urban fabric of the city.”
Three men made important contributions to the design of the Space Needle: Edward E. CarlsonJohn Graham Jr.and Victor Steinbrueck. “Edward Carlson was a Seattle hotel executive and the chief organizer of the 1962 World’s Fair,” Chesmore says. “In 1952he traveled to Europespecifically to StuttgartGermanywhere he was inspired by a broadcast tower that also featured a restaurant. He came back with a crudelittle sketch of a circle on top of a pole. That was the impetus of the Space Needle.”
From this napkin noodlearchitect John Graham Jr. of John Graham & Company dreamed up the Space Needle’s flying-saucer-like revolving restaurant and observation deck. “At the timeJohn Graham Jr. was a leading modernist,” explains Chesmore. “He had just recently designed a revolving restaurant in Hawaii [La Ronde at the Ala Moana Shopping Center]so his thought was the restaurant should be revolving so you could see Puget SoundElliott Bayand pretty much all of Seattle.”
Graham then hired architect Victor Steinbrueck to refine the Space Needle’s design. Steinbrueck came up with the tower’s hourglass-shaped support structurewhich was informed by a David Lemon sculpture that he owned. The little wood maquettetitled The Feminine Onedepicts a female dancer in motion. “When you look at the shape and the detail of the Space NeedleI think it was Victor Steinbrueck who had more influence than even John Graham Jr.but he gets the credit because it was his firm,” considers Chesmore.
The Space Needle is defined by its disc-shaped top and its tripod base that tapers in the middlegiving it a wasp-waist form. “The strongiconic profile of the three-leggedpod-like structure comes to a highnarrow waist and then branches out again,” describes Steinbrueck. “It was a simpleelegant solution that provided a podium for the restaurant and the observation deck on the top. There is also the dance influencea figure that is embodied there. There’s an anthropomorphic suggestion—arms outstretchedlegs spread. It presents a very graceful silhouette that’s always changing with the light and atmospheric conditions throughout the year.”
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According to Chesmorethis sleekdynamic architecture “reflected the country’s desire toward more technological innovation and progress. It was really all about the Age of Space and advancements. And though it was built in 1962it still looks futuristic today. It really has a sense of forward thinking.”
Built on a foundation of rebar-reinforced poured concrete that is 30 feet deep and 120 feet widethe Space Needle is primarily made of steel and glass. It is held together with over 74,000 bolts. “My father’s notebook shows some of the other ideas that were being floated and different types of structural materialsfrom tension strand to concrete to steel,” shares Steinbrueck. “Ultimatelythey decided on steel because it was quick to fabricate and they were running up against the deadline. They were able to do it at a remarkable speed—in less than a year’s time.”
The Space Needle is 605 feet tall. At the time of its completionit was the tallest building west of the Mississippi River. It had surpassed the Smith Tower as the tallest structure on the West Coasta distinction held since 1914. “After the stock market crash of 1929there was about a 25-year lull in building,” explains Chesmore. “So it was quite a span [of pause]1914 to 1962when you think about advances in height and verticality.”
At 500 feetthe Space Needle’s revolving restaurant was designed to offer 360-degree views of Seattle. “You would get the whole panorama of the spectacular mountain ranges of the Olympics and the Cascadesthe glistening water of Elliott Baythe forest greenand the city skyline,” Steinbrueck details. “There was nothing like it at that time. Absolutely nothingcertainlyat that height. The height was set at just above the tallest hills in Seattle so that the viewers could see without any obstructions.” The visual experience is still superlative today.
In the summer of 2017local architecture firm Olson Kundig began a $100 million update of the Space Needle called the Century Project. “For the recent big renovationthey were looking at the future,” Woo says. “They were asking‘How do we attract new generations of people to the Space Needle and have it enjoyed the way previous generations had?’ It’s always been really well-maintained and well-cared for.”
A local familythe Wrightscan be thanked for the Space Needle’s diligent conservation. They have privately owned the tower since Howard S. Wrightwhose construction company originally built itbought out his partners in 1977. “They have been really good stewards of the Needle over the years and the recently completed remodel retained the integrity of the design,” mentions Steinbrueck. “They did consult me briefly on that. They were absolutely graceful and intent on preserving it. And Olson Kundig had to go through an historic preservation commission—they were meticulous in how they approached it.”
Olson Kundig replaced the lower level walls with floor-to-ceiling glassexpanded the upper level observation deckadded canted glass benches called Skyrisersand built a woodsteeland glass Oculus staircase connecting the two floors. The most impressive new featurethoughis the rotating glass floor—the first and only in the world—located in Loupe’s Loungethe restaurant at the top of the structure.
In Steinbrueck’s opinionthe overhaul enhanced the visitor experience of the Space Needle. Removing the dated terrazzo floor in favor of glassfor exampleputs his father’s support structure on full display for guests to see. “The remodel did some remarkable things,” he says. “They revealed the supporting members underneath the restaurant levelwhere the arms that reach out form a crown of steel. I think that they’re in the process of additional work on the elevatorstoo.”
The Wright family also commissioned a nine-foot-tall bronze replica of The Feminine Onethe small wooden statue that inspired Victor Steinbrueck’s Space Needle design. “It was beautifully done,” Steinbrueck raves. “There were some real technical challenges to create something that large in bronze and retain the precise profile of the original sculpture—and they did it. It is permanently installed on the grounds near the base of the Space Needle with a plaque that honors my father’s contribution.”
The Space Needle is open to visitors seven days a week year-round. A regular general admission ticket costs between $35 and $42.50depending on the day and time of entryand can be purchased in advance. Visitors also have the option to buy a combined ticket that offers access to both the Space Needle and the Chihuly Garden and Glass museumwhich is situated adjacent to the towerfor $64.
The quickestmost fun way to get to the Space Needle is via the Seattle Center Monorailthe country’s first full-scale commercial monorail system. It departs approximately every ten minutes from the Westlake Center Mall in Downtown Seattle. The Seattle Center also boasts three paid parking garages and valet parking options for visitors who choose to drive.
Once you arrive at the Space Needle for your designated entry timeit takes about 30 minutes to get to the top. This half hour includes passing through the security checkpointexploring the “Building the Marvel” exhibitsnapping a free digital photoand riding the elevator. “There’s a really wonderful display about the architecture and history of the Space Needle told through photographs and quotes,” Woo says of the exhibit. “The under-construction photographs are especially amazing. It’s quite a feat of structural engineering.”
When you get to the top of the Space Needlethe main attraction is the panoramic views. On the lower levelguests with a prepaid reservation can enjoy the revolving glass floora multi-course culinary towerand craft cocktails at the Loupe Lounge. On the upper levelTipTop Cafe serves sweet and savory personal hand pieswhile the Sunset Bar pairs local wines and beers with PinkaBella Cupcakes and Whidbey Island Ice Cream Co.
For Chesmorethe Space Needle’s legacy is about its significance to the modern architecture movement. “I believe it’s one of the best examples of midcentury-modern architecture in the Pacific Northwest,” he declares. “There was a swingaround the ’50s and ’60scoming out of Renaissance and Art Deco architecture and leading to a modern movement. A number of architects were fleeing Europecoming to the United Statesand bringing with them a Bauhaus method of teaching and design. The Space Needle was an important part of that era.”
Woo is partial to the Space Needle’s impact on the Seattle skyline and its role as a symbol for the city. “To meit just says ‘Seattle,’” she muses. “When I see itI know I’m home. And if you see the skyline in the movies or on TVthen it can only be in Seattle. It is not some generic city where you’re not quite sure where it is. It can only be in Seattle.”
